7/28/2019 Involuntary Separations

1/212 FEBRUARY 2013

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By JENNIFER MATTSON NCO Journal

As the Army draws down its orce, approximately20,000 NCOs will be subject to involuntaryseparation or discontinuation o service through

scal year 2017.AR 635-200,Active Duty Enlisted Administrative

Separations, gives the Army the authority to initiate

the involuntary separation o Soldiers as a result oreductions in orce, strength limitations or budgetaryconstraints. In 2010, when the Army started to look athow to use that authority, the Army G-1 instituted theQualitative Service Program and Qualitative Manage-ment Program.

Te Qualitative Service Program applies to NCOs rom sta sergeants to sergeants major in militaryoccupational specialties that have been identied as be-ing overstrength by the Army G-1 and ranks NCOs ac-

cording to their potential. Te Qualitative ManagemenProgram looks at NCOs across the Army and ranksthem according to the Soldiers potential or capabilityto meet the Armys needs. All NCOs who are sergeantrst class and above with 19 years o service are subjecto the QMP.

NCOs who involuntarily separate under QMP willnot be able to receive temporary early retirement or be

allowed to return to active duty without a waiver. Alsothey must leave no later than the rst day o the sevenmonth ollowing the boards decision.

Gerald Purcell, the Army G-1s personnel policy integrator, said the program will ollow a board schedulein which sta sergeants are considered or QSP dur-ing the annual sergeant rst class promotion board,sergeants rst class are considered during the mastersergeant board, master sergeants during the sergeantmajor training and selection board, and sergeants

major during the nominative commandsergeant major/command selection list

promotion board.[Te QSP] capitalizes on our existincentralized selection board process toassess Soldiers who are being considereor involuntary separation based on thepotential or uture contributions to theArmy just like a promotion boarddoes, Purcell said. Tis process targetsskills that are excess requirements. Sol-diers holding MOSs that are balanced oshort are not going to be subject to thisprogram.

NCOs will be notied beore the

board convenes that they are beingconsidered or QSP. Once the boardconvenes, an ofcial notication will bemade to the Soldiers rst general ofcerthen to the battalion commander.

Inolntarseparations

TOOLKIT

A Soldir rom th 4th Sustainmnt

Brigad saluts th Amrican ag during

a crmony March 27, 2010, at Fort Hood

Tas. PHOTO BY SgT. 1ST ClaSS EriCk

riTTErBY

7/28/2019 Involuntary Separations

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All o these Soldiers are ully qualied Soldiers who wewould otherwise desire to keep, Purcell said. However, aswe shape the orce to meet changing requirements, we recog-nize that many antastic Soldiers will be identied or denialo continued service. We also recognize that we must do thisas we shape the orce in an eort to ensure we retain thoseNCOs who have the greatest potential or uture contributions,retaining the highest levels o readiness and capability in anall-volunteer Army.

An NCO may appeal the boards decision, but only i he or

she believes that his or her record contained material errors.An NCO who wishes to stay in the Army may also seek reclas-sication to a shortage MOS to t the Armys needs. However,the NCO must have a course date that begins within the sixmonths ollowing the notication o separation under QSP.

Making yoursel more useul to the Army is always a goodthing, Purcell said.

NCOs separated under QSP may apply or early retirementi they have at least 15 years o active ederal service at the dateo separation. However, these Soldiers can no longer transer

their Post-9/11 GI Bill benets to their dependents. I in theuture, the Army needs the skills separated Soldiers have, theywill be able to return to active duty. Soldiers will also have a

minimum o 12 months rom the boards decision to transitionto civilian lie. Tey must serve at least 90 days, by law, beorethey separate. In addition, the boards decision isnt madepublic.

Were trying to do everything we can to recognize that theyare quality people, Purcell said. We really want to take care othem as they leave. We want to maximize their ability to takeadvantage o the transition assistance programs we have.

NexT ISSUe: STRUCTUReD SeLF-DeVeLOPMeNT

Critria considrdBoars tat eie weter a Solier sol be

inolntaril separate se te same riteria tat

a promotion boar looks at. Te boar eelops

an Orer of Merit List an foses on tose at tebottom of te list to make a etermination. Some

items onsiere are:

PERSONNEL quALIFIcATION REcORd:

The board reviews the NCOs personnel

qualifcation record to determine range o

assignments, military and civilian education,

and additional training.

OFFIcIAL PhOTOgRAPh is used to judge

a Soldiers appearance and to note awards,

medals and badges.

MORAL ANd EThIcAL cONducTTheboard considers whether a Soldiers conduct is

incompatible or inconsistent with the Armys

values or the values o the NCO Corps.

EFFIcIENcy ANd PERFORMANcE The

board looks at whether the NCO is unable to

perorm NCO duties in his or her current grade

or i there has been a decline noted in the

NCOs NCO Evaluation Report, including ailing

NCO Education System courses, disciplinary

problems or bars to re-enlistment.

PhySIcAL STANdARdSThe board

considers whether the NCO is able to maintainphysical standards or comply with the Army

body composition program.

OFFIcIAL MILITARy PERSONNEL FILE

The board reviews the perormance portion

(P-fche) o the Soldiers OMPF.

Boar proesses for separation

Inolntar, earl separations are base on NcOs r-

rent performane an teir potential for ftre ontrib-

tions to te Arm. Te poliies are otline in AR 635-

200,Active Duty Enlisted Administrative Separations.

quALITATIvE MA NAgEMENT PROgRAM

Focuss on snior NCOs (e-7 to e-9) who may b dnid or

continud srvic bcaus o prormanc, conduct or po-

tntial or advancmnt that dos not mt Army standards.

OvERSTRENgTh

quALITATIvE S ERvIcE PROgRAM

Looks at e-6 to e-9 NCOs or dnial o continud srvic

in slct military occupational spcialitis whr th

12-month oprating strngth projctions cd 100 pr-

cnt. I othrwis qualifd, NCOs may voluntarily rclassiy

into a shortag MOS.

PROMOTION STAgNATION

quALITATIvE S ERvIcE PROgRAM

Board will considr e-6 to e-9 NCOs or discontinuation

o srvic in slct MOSs or skill lvls whr promotion

stagnation is vidnt.

qMP

qSP